Thank to Mary Grand, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for organising this blog tour.
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Synopsis
Someone is about to die… Someone is about to lie…
At the intimate house-warming party for her glorious ‘grand design’, Kathleen confides in her best friend Beth that she is terrified of one of their close friends, but daren’t reveal which one. The guests are a tight-knit group, but Kathleen is convinced one of them is dangerous.
The next day Kathleen’s body is found at the foot of a cliff and Beth must face the sickening truth that she may have been killed by one of their trusted friends. With little help from the police, Beth’s decides to seek answers.
All the friends have secrets they are desperate to hide, but only one of them is ready to kill to keep theirs safe…
The House Party is set on the Isle of Wight – insular,claustrophobic, and with nowhere to run. Mary Grand has written a heart-stopping novel of secrets, betrayal and desire, perfect for fans of Louise Candlish and Lucy Foley.
My Thoughts
Mary Grand has used a classic locked room format for this mystery thriller but given it a larger stage and it works so well.
Kathleen and Patrick have just finished building their beautiful house in a small town on the Isle of White. During her housewarming party Kathleen confesses to friend Beth that she has made a terrible mistake and now someone is threatening to expose her. She is scared, out of character and she reveals someone in their group is not who they pretend to be. The next day Kathleen’s body is found and first thoughts are that she fell over the cliff in a tragic accident however Beth feels there’s something sinister at work but who can she trust to help?
Beth becomes completely consumed by her final conversation with Kathleen and is convinced there was more to her story. The more she questions and talks with friends, the more small things are hinted at or revealed which makes everyone a suspect.
The plot unravels at a steady pace – it’s not a novel that races through things however it allows the reader to soak up every piece of information. I completely put myself in Beth’s shoes and I analysed every conversation and action of her friends. I searched for clues within everything and the more I learned, the more suspicious I became of everyone. Nobody is who they seem to be and everything feels off. I always enjoy a novel that makes me feel like this – I love untrustworthy characters and I love playing guess who.
The setting provides the perfect backdrop to this mystery. From the beautiful cliffs to the mentality and community spirit of a small village, the description and choice of venue compliments the plot perfectly. I think the closer the character is to everyone and everything, the more tense things feel.
An excellent character driven mystery.
Author Bio – Mary Grand
Mary Grand is the author of five novels and writes gripping, page-turning suspense, with a dark and often murderous underside. She grew up in Wales, was for many years a teacher of deaf children and now lives on the Isle of Wight where her new novel,
The House Party, which will be published by Boldwood in July 2020, is set.
Social Media Links –
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Bookbub Profile: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/mary-grand?list=about
Blog / website URL: https://marygrand.net/
Herding Cats 